Megha Vemuri, a double major and class president at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) from India, was barred from attending her graduation ceremony after giving an unsanctioned pro-Palestinian speech during MIT’s OneMIT Commencement event on May 29.
Wearing a red keffiyeh, Vemuri used her time at the podium to criticise MIT’s ties with Israel, accusing the institute of contributing to the “ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
Her speech was not vetted in advance and diverged from the intended purpose of the event. MIT later informed her that she and her family would not be allowed to attend the official graduation ceremony, and her diploma would be sent by mail. The administration said she had misled organisers by promising a unifying speech but instead used the platform to lead a protest.
Vemuri, a prominent student activist and member of the pro-Palestinian group “Written Revolution,” said she wasn’t surprised by MIT’s decision but expressed disappointment over the lack of due process. She also noted that MIT has received over $2.8 million from Israeli entities between 2020 and 2024.
Her remarks received a standing ovation from many in the crowd and were later widely shared online.
